{"id":474429,"date":"2010-03-19T04:44:29","date_gmt":"2010-03-19T08:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autoshow.autotrader.ca\/?p=13005"},"modified":"2010-03-19T04:44:29","modified_gmt":"2010-03-19T08:44:29","slug":"mercedes-benz-b-class-heading-stateside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/474429","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes-Benz B-Class Heading Stateside"},"content":{"rendered":"

B-Class Product Planning Could Benefit from US Sales <\/strong>
\nCanadian Auto Press<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

*featured make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’B-Class’
\n*relatedNew make=’Audi’ model=’A3′
\n*relatedNew make=’Mini’ model=’Clubman’
\n*relatedUsed make=’Volkswagen’ model=’Jetta Wagon’
\n*relatedUsed make=’Mazda’ model=’Mazda5′<\/div>\n

The appropriately named B-Class, which fits neatly under the C-Class in the B-segment within just about every market outside of the US, appears to be going stateside when the upgraded next-generation model arrives.<\/p>\n

\"2010<\/a><\/p>\n

2010 Mercedes-Benz B-Class<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Let\u2019s face it. In Canada, at least, the B200 and B200 Turbo are a big reason why Mercedes-Benz enjoys such strong sales.\u00a0 The compact model not only allows aspiring three-pointed star devotees to buy into the luxury brand, but also gives them a high-quality small car that\u2019s as practical as it is well appointed in top-tier trim.<\/p>\n

Yesterday Automotive News (AN) reported that the German automaker would offer a compact car and a \u201csmall SUV\u201d (could it mean crossover?) south of the 49th<\/sup> soon.\u00a0 The next B-Class will be introduced to Europeans in 2011, and being that it\u2019s already designed for the Canadian market it\u2019s a no-brainer for the now harmonized US market as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here in Canada the B200 represents the port of entry into Mercedes-Benz exclusivity, as well as the most fuel-friendly of the two compact models.\u00a0 The B200 Turbo offers a sporting edge, with much more power as well as a firmer suspension and larger wheels and tires, just for starters.\u00a0 A larger US market might mean that additional models could be added that wouldn\u2019t otherwise be cost effective for the Canadian division to import alone, so send out positive vibes for a new clean diesel alternative to the gasoline powerplants available now, or even an electric or hydrogen fuel cell B.\u00a0 Why such speculation on unconventional power?\u00a0 The AN report states that a fossil fuel alternative may be offered.<\/p>\n

In Europe and other world markets, Canada included in this case, the B-Class represents a new ideal, a new way of thinking about luxury.\u00a0 Now luxury and premium status don\u2019t have to mean large and gluttonous, but rather Mercedes includes many of the same top-level features as available in its larger cars within a more fuel-efficient, cleaner and greener package.<\/p>\n

The US market has made do with the C-Class as its entry-level model for decades, and while the slightly larger than compact sedan has served the first-time M-B buyer well, higher fuel prices, dependence on foreign oil and environmental concerns are causing many American luxury buyers to rethink their purchases.<\/p>\n

But will they rethink to the point of a compact five-door hatchback with a big, fat three-pointed star on the grille and blue and silver Mercedes-Benz emblem on its hood?\u00a0 Depending on the market it\u2019s being sold into and individual economic motivation, we\u2019re still at a crossroads.<\/p>\n

“The behavior of Americans depends on fuel prices,\u201d said Joachim Schmidt, sales and marketing chief at MB. \u201cNevertheless, we see a trend also toward fuel-efficient cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

B-Class Product Planning Could Benefit from US Sales Canadian Auto Press *featured make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’B-Class’ *relatedNew make=’Audi’ model=’A3′ *relatedNew make=’Mini’ model=’Clubman’ *relatedUsed make=’Volkswagen’ model=’Jetta Wagon’ *relatedUsed make=’Mazda’ model=’Mazda5′ The appropriately named B-Class, which fits neatly under the C-Class in the B-segment within just about every market outside of the US, appears to be going stateside when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6383,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-474429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6383"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474429"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474429\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}